Anyone that has owned property with a tree or taller shrubs has at one time or another run into the issue of having to trim a high tree branch because it was damaged, died, or just hanging too low.
Here are 7 ways to trim high tree branches:
- Use a pole pruner
- Use a pole saw
- Use a pocket saw with a rope
- Use a ladder with a pruner or pruning saw
- Rent a bucket lift
- Climb the tree using ropes and harness
- Use a phone to call a professional
Lets walk through each way to see if it will work for you.
1. How Do You Use a Pole Pruner?
Determine The Size Of The Branch
Using a pole pruner can make the task of trimming branches very quick. You just have to keep in mind what size diameter you can cut.
For limbs less than an inch in diameter for people with stronger grips and less than 3/4 of an inch for most people a pole pruner is an excellent option.
This is also going to depend on the type of tree you are cutting as to how big the diameter you can handle. Soft woods like white pine or magnolia can be easily cut whereas; dead oak or maple branches are a whole other story. They can be very tough to cut.
In general “live” wood is much easier to cut than “dead” wood. If you are tackling the harder wood to cut then you will want to reduce the diameter that you attempt to cut with a pole pruner.
Before taking on a bigger limb first start out with smaller diameter ones to get a feel for what you might be able to cut. It can be a challenge to remove the pruner head if you only get part way through the branch. Plus you are going to leave a partially cut limb.
How The Pruner Head Works
Most pole pruners will use some sort of leverage systems such as a chain or leverages or rope pulleys multiplying the amount of effort you are giving on the low end. This enables you to cut branches even though you are making the cut from the bottom of the limb which makes the branch pinch the blade as it is going through making it harder.
A pole pruner will normally have a hook blade which allows you to grab the branch from the top and when you pull on the rope or lever device the lower jaw blade will make the cut upward bypassing the hook blade.
Try to make the cuts close to a fork in the limb structure or if you are pruning against the trunk try to make it at the branch collar without actually cutting the collar.
How Long Should The Pole Be?
If you already own a pole pruner you can just start pruning and you will find out quickly if you will be able to reach all the branches you would like to trim.
If you don’t already have a pole pruner I would suggest that you try to measure how long of one you should purchase first.
Tree limbs can seem close to the ground but in
One way to figure this out is to compare the height to a nearby building. I single story house to the gutter height is about 9 feet. Then you can stand back a distance and figure out how many stories the limb might be off the ground.
Another way is by using a tape measure you can measure how high off the ground the limb is. Holding the base of the tape measure at shoulder height then just add 5 feet to the total or if you are a taller person you can add more. (5 feet 5 inches) We are just getting a rough idea of how high is the branch.
PRO TIP
Wider tape measure can extend out further before they collapse which enable you to reach higher for a measurement.
Pole pruners come in many different style and lengths of pole. Poles will be either fixed length, telescopic, or designed so you can add sections to make them longer.
The shorter fixed poles will be in the 6 to 12-foot range whereas; the telescopic or section ones can be from 6 to 40 feet and beyond. I would not recommend one much longer than 30 to 35 feet because it takes quite a bit of strength to handle them.
I have used a 40 foot one on numerous occasions and you will need a “spotter” to help guide you into place for those really high branches.
CAUTION
Once you make the cut through the branch it will be coming down at a better good rate so you need to be prepared for it. Try to figure out where it will be going before you make the cut.
2. How To Use A Pole Saw
When the branch you are trying to cut is larger than an 1 1/2 to 2 inches you will need to step on to a pole saw to take care of the job.
The pole part is the same as a pole pruner unless you have a battery, electric or gas powered chainsaw head on the pole. If this is the case the lower end will have the motor and trigger to run it.
Manual Pole Saw
Lets cover the manual version of a pole saw first. Some pole pruners have a saw blade attachment that just fastens on to the pruning head. Other will just be strictly the saw blade attachment only.
The manual saw can be very challenging to use the higher you are going because the pole flexes with each stroke which absorbs some of your efforts.
The other thing that can make a manual saw harder to use is if you are trying to cut in the middle or end of the limb instead of next to the trunk. As you push and pull the saw blade the limb will also move.
Most of the pole saw blades are curved so that you can make the cut towards the top part of the limb then as you pull the saw it cuts. This helps to keep the blade from pinching which makes the sawing much harder.
You should try to make two cuts when using a pole saw. One will be out about a foot or two from where you want to make the finish cut because when you are cutting the branch it will tear the bark as the limb falls down before you are able to cut all the way through.
After the weight of the branch has been removed then you can move the saw over the where you want the finished cut to be. I realize this takes twice the effort, but your tree will thank you be healing over much faster.
Since you are now cutting a bigger diameter sized limb there will be considerably more weight involved so you will need to make sure that the “landing zone” is completely cleared or shielded.
Limbs that are bigger in diameter can now be several hundred pounds so you will also have to have a plan of escape so that the branch doesn’t come down on you.
Starting the Cut
With a manual pole saw you will set the blade where you want to make the cut and slowly make the first pull cut. Meaning it will cut a groove as you pull the pole down.
Once you have a nice cut going you can work the movement faster and it will stay in the same track.
Once the Limb Starts Downward
Once you notice the limb starting to move downward on the end you will want to try to cut as fast as you can to minimize the bottom of the cut from tearing as much bark. This is very challenging but try.
Undercut the Limb
While it would be great if you can undercut the limb, it is very hard to do with a longer pole saw. Give it your best effort. This can help to minimize any tearing of the bark as the limb drops down.
Battery, Electric, or Gas Powered Pole Saws
A powered pole saw has a head with chainsaw chain on a 6 to 12 inch bar. The motor and trigger are at the other end where the person is holding the equipment.
Powered pole saws come either with a fixed length pole or a telescopic pole with a few models having a section system. The typical length if from 6 to 18 feet with the majority running up to 12-14 feet.
The technique used with a powered pole saw is very similar to the manual way. Only now it is much easier to make an undercut.
You should still make the first cut a foot or two away from where you want the finished cut to be. This will help with the bark tearing as the limb falls down. Tearing should be minimized because you can make the cut so much faster.
PRO TIP
If you are working on a bigger branch you might consider cutting it in several sections which makes it easier to figure out the landing zone, since it is powered by a machine instead of your arms.
3. How To Use a Pocket Saw With a Rope
This is something I just recently discovered. A pocket saw is chainsaw chain with rope tied to both ends.
The official pocket saw chain is more narrow than a chainsaw chain which makes it easier to use.
To start you throw a line over the limb you are pruning. Then with the line you can pull the rope over with the chainsaw chain attached.
The trick is trying to get saw blade in the right spot. First you have to be able to throw a line over the branch. Then you have to slide the rope back and forth while working it to the cutting spot. Then you have to get the cutting side against the branch.
Once you have it all lined up, start by pulling one end slowly down then the pull the other end down slowly. Once you have it firmly in the groove you can start pulling faster.
One of the biggest advantages to this tool is that you are only limited to how high you can throw and the length of your ropes which can be switched out.
It does make you work hard when you are pulling on the ends of the rope, it is less expensive than most tools. Less than $30 for the blade plus the rope you need.
4. Use a Ladder With a Pruner Or Pruning Saw
Up to this point we have been talking about ways to cut high branches from the ground. Now let’s move onto ways to get even higher.
One of the simplest ways to get higher is to work off a ladder.
If you are trimming the ends of the branches you can use a step ladder while holding a pole pruner or pole saw. You will want the step ladder to be firmly held by someone else while you are working.
If you are cutting the branch off at the trunk end you can use an extension ladder against the tree trunk which can get you much higher into the canopy.
Once you have your ladder set it is always a good idea to tie it to the tree at the top so it doesn’t shift on you while you are working. Or if the limb hits the ladder it will be more likely to stay in place to prevent you from falling.
Working off any ladder adds another level of danger and unpredictable events.
You shouldn’t place an extension ladder against a limb that you are working on because when the weight of the part you are cutting falls off the rest of the limb will raise which can either make you ladder unstable or if the limb raises too much it might be higher then the extension ladder itself which means you will no longer be resting against anything.
Actually using the pole saw or pruner is no different than if you are on the ground while using them. You just have the added element of trying to hang on while you are using the tool.
5. Rent a Bucket Lift
Any homeowner can rent bucket lifts at your local equipment rental place. These lifts come in a variety of sizes and capabilities.
From trailer types that you pull with your truck or SUV to ones that have to be delivered. The ones that you pull like a trailer are the most common for a homeowner to rent.
The trailer lifts can reach up to 40 feet. You will need to pull it to the location where you want to use it. Then you set the outriggers which make it very stable. From within the bucket you can then use a pole pruner or pole saw to reach into the canopy to make your cuts.
The commercial self-propelling lifts can reach up to 125 feet and they have their own drive system so you just drive them to where you want to use them. Again once you have them in place you can operate your pole saw or pole pruners in a comfortable safe bucket or platform.
The number one consideration when thinking about a bucket lift is the terrain. If it is hilly you might need to pass on this idea. They work best on flat ground.
The other consideration is being able to get the piece of equipment to the site in your yard. Do you have fences? Are there too many plants in the way? If you can drive your vehicle to the spot then it should be okay.
6. Climb The Tree Using Ropes And Harness
Climbing the tree itself may be a great option. This is going to depend on the type of tree and the limb structure.
I find that most evergreens are pretty easy to climb once you get to the first limb. While there might be a little sap to deal with, the limbs are usually close enough together to be able to climb up.
If you are dealing with a big oak tree or maple it might be a little bit of a challenge to go from one limb to another by just climbing. On these types of trees you are probably going to have to know how to use ropes and a climbing harness to get to the branch.
Without the aid of a climbing harness and rope system it is nearly impossible to prune back the ends of a branch. If you are just free climbing the tree it is easy to cut off the entire limb at the trunk.
Either way you end up in the tree, you will be using a regular pruning saw or hand pruners. It is hard to work with a long pole once you are up in the tree.
How To Cut The Branch
Since you are right by the action you can make the proper cuts to minimize the possibility of tearing the bark. So use the 3 cut method.
Make an undercut about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom then go away from the trunk to make the second cut all the way through and finally make the finish cut from the top of the branch down to the undercut you made earlier.
Drop Zone
Since you are up in the tree you have some control as to where the limb will land. You can even tie a rope to the limb so that a partner can pull it in the direction you desire.
Always make sure the zone is clear of people so that no one gets hurt from falling limbs or short pieces of limb.
7. Use a Phone To Call a Professional Arborist or Tree Company
Trimming high limbs on a tree can be very dangerous work especially if there are electric power lines involved. Your well being isn’t worth it so in many cases it is just better to call in the professionals that have all the right safety equipment and experience to tackle the job.
Unfortunately, I know all too well the dangers that are involved with pruning higher tree branches. From my father falling off a ladder on a landscaping job, knocking him out and having paramedics taken him to the hospital with some broken ribs.
And worst yet, my neighbor’s father was killed while trying to use a ladder to take down a tree limb at his house.
So please use caution when pruning high limbs.
Other Considerations
Branch situation can make the job more complex. If you are dealing with a broken branch it can make the landing zone very unpredictable. Or it can make getting the branch down after you cut it challenging. Once a branch gets hung up in other branches it gets hard to get them down when you are 30 feet away.
Cable, telephone, or electric power lines bring a whole new dimension to the task. It is recommended to let the professionals handle situations that involve these elements.
It can be very costly and very dangerous when you start dealing with electric power lines.
Plants or objects below where you are pruning. The branches you are pruning will be coming down, so the question becomes what are they going to hit.
Survey a big “landing area” and remove any objections you don’t want damaged when the branch comes crashing down. The weight of the branch can be substantial.
You will want to remove any objects like bird baths, bird houses, benches, etc. . . If you have smaller plants or landscape features that can’t be moved in the landing area try to figure out how to shield them.
Keep in mind, as the limb falls and hits other limbs they can be thrown off course and land several feet away from where you might think they are going to land.
Size of the job can very deceiving. What might look small when its way up in the tree becomes very large one it comes down.
I have been on many jobs where we were just taking a little bit off here and there on large trees and the amount of brush adds up very quickly. Within minutes you can have a truck load of brush to haul away.
Safety Tips
Helmet or Hard Hats
Since you are working with branches over your head it is best to wear some sort of protective gear such as a helmet or hard hat. Many things can fall out of the tree beside the branch you are working on.
Other dead branches can easily start to fall. Pieces of the equipment you are using can break and fall. Anything up 20, 30, even 50 feet up that falls can leave a mark.
Safety Glasses
If you are just using a pole pruner, not as much falls down but there can still be little pieces of wood that fall. Since you are looking up it is very easy for you to get something in your eye.
If you are using a pole saw, then saw dust will be floating down everywhere. Safety glasses or a face shield come in very handy.
watch for other branches that might break if they are hit
Unintended Debris
While you might be focus on a specific branches, it is not unusual for other limbs to fall as well. Dead limbs that you don’t notice can easily be hit or the while the limb you cut is falling it might break another branch on the way down.
Be very aware of your whole surroundings while pruning overhead.